BLACKSBURG, Va. – Through the first two and a half games Thursday night, it appeared Florida State (7-4) would walk away with a sweep against Virginia Tech (6-6) in the first match of the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) volleyball season. The Seminoles played scrappy defense, scored off of the serve and never felt threatened by the Hokies.

However, midway through the third contest, the Seminoles allowed several missed opportunities to get past them as FSU crumpled in the remaining three games and lost its first ever match to Virginia Tech. Florida State, who owned a 13-0 all-time record, dropped a five game heartbreaker to the Hokies after being up 2-0 at Cassell Coliseum and handed Virginia Tech its first-ever ACC win. Game scores were 30-23, 30-27, 29-31, 29-31, 9-15.

The nation’s sixth-ranked hitter (percentage), Amanda Santos, paced the Tribe’s offense with 18 kills on 39 swings for a .385 mark. She added six digs and three blocks (1-3). Kristen Rust recorded respectable numbers on both sides of the net where she totaled 15 kills and nine digs. Aisha Carr rounded out the double-digit offensive performers with 10 kills and she added 10 blocks (1-9).

As a team, the Seminoles hit .090 percent while the Hokies registered a .103 mark. Florida State committed 15 service errors.

On defense, Summer Weissing, Renee Hill, and Sarah Griffin combined for 45 of FSU’s 71 total digs. Weissing set a new career and team season-high with 21 digs, Hill added 13, and Griffin tallied 10, respectively.

In the first game, the Seminoles went on an immediate 6-1 run that forced the Hokies’ coaching staff to call timeout right away. Florida State continued to play flawless until an ace by Rust sent the Tribe on a downward spiral that allowed Virginia Tech to take advantage of a 9-3 run and tie the score up 12-all. However, Amanda Santos, who recorded four kills, three digs, and a block in the first contest, answered back with a kill and never allowed the Hokies to gain the lead. Game point came on a reception error by the home team and senior middle blocker Carr sealed the 30-23 win with a perfect slam that landed untouched at the 10-foot line.

The Seminoles hit .139 during the first game while holding Virginia Tech to a .000 hitting percentage. The Tribe outblocked the Hokies (4.0-1.0) and registered four service aces.

The second contest was a reciprocal of the first, as Florida State bounced out to an 8-4 gain that extended to 21-13. That would be the last time the Seminoles scored for six possessions as the Hokies went on a 6-0 that pulled the game within four points (22-18) and Kress called timeout to regroup his squad. Reception and attack errors allowed Virginia Tech to sneak in closer as it came within one point five times late in the game (24-23, 25-24, 26-25, 27-26, 28-27). However, the Tribe found a way to fight when it mattered most, as it never allowed the Hokies to tie the game up and FSU clinched the 30-27 thriller.

Once again, Amanda Santos came on strong as she totaled six kills on nine swings and Griffin poured in four kills and digs in the second contest. FSU hit .170 and held Virginia Tech under .100 (.073) for the second consecutive game.

Florida State raced out of the locker room after the break and grabbed a quick 11-8 lead in the third contest. However, the Hokies quickly snuck back up on the visitors and tied the game up at 18-all. Moments later, Virginia Tech led the game for the first time all night as it went ahead one point (19-18). Both teams would exchange points back and forth and the contest tied up on six different possessions from this point on. Down 27-25, Kress called timeout and it proved beneficial for his squad as they tied the match up 28 and 29-all. However, this would be the last time the Tribe remained in the game as the Hokies answered with two straight points for the 31-29 victory.

Florida State was held to a .000 hitting percentage (12-12-50), while Virginia Tech hit .043 (15-13-47).

The fourth game was a close affair throughout the entire competition. Neither team gained an extensive lead and both squads were tied up late at 25-25 until Rust pounded down a kill for the lead (26-25). Seconds later, a kill by the Hokies tied the game up at 26-26, but Rust once again came through big with a kill (27-26) followed by a block assist by Nikki Anthony and Carr (28-26). An attack error by the Seminoles followed by a kill from the Hokies tied the game back up at 28-all. Two plays later, the score tied up yet again at 29-29 and an attack error on FSU put the Hokies ahead by one (30-29). On the next play, Virginia Tech finished off a kill and forced a fifth game after earning a 31-29 win.

The Seminoles, who entered tonight with a 1-1 record in five-game matches this season, immediately went ahead 4-0. However, the Hokies answered back and went on an 8-2 run to put them ahead 8-6. From that point on, Virginia Tech never felt threatened as it claimed a 15-9 victory.

Annie Spicer led Virginia Tech with 22 kills and 15 digs.

FSU will immediately hit the road in the morning and travel south to Miami to face the Hurricanes Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The match will be the first ever ACC contest for Miami. In the history of the program, Florida State has yet to ever defeat the Hurricanes on the road. Live stats are available at www.seminoles.com.